Today, 7 April 2020 is a special day set aside by the World Health Organization (WHO) to recognize and celebrate the work of health care workers and to remind the world of the critical role they play in keeping the world healthy.

This recognition comes at a time when the world is battling the Covid-19 pandemic where doctors, nurses and other health workers and support staffs are the frontline troops in this global conflict. Many have fallen to this enemy which is invisible and deadly.

Doctors, nurses and other medical and healthcare workers and support staff in SVG are facing an unprecedented workload with limited resources, and with no apparent end in sight. They are working in a stressful and frightening work environment, where the enemy is little understood, and in most cases they are under-protected, overworked and vulnerable to infection.

Like soldiers, our health workers are confronted with mental stress. It is often forgotten that as humans, they feel a sense of loss when they lose a patient. They also have families, and will naturally be fearful that while they are helping others the virus might reach their loved ones.

The risk to doctors, nurses and others on the front lines is without question.  In Spain alone 3,900 health care workers have become infected by the virus.

The heroism, dedication and selfless commitment of medical staff here in SVG, offer us a sense of reassurance that with their sacrifice we will overcome this virus. We must give our health workers all the support they need to do their jobs.

The NDP recognizes the sacrifice of our health care workers and call on all Vincentians to show their support. We can further assist them by observing the basic hygiene protocols, such as washing hands and observing social distancing.  Most of all, those persons who are quarantined your gift to our health care workers would be to observe the quarantine with discipline.

Let us stand in solidarity with our healthcare workers.